The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI; http://irri.org ) has found that from harvest to market, farmers usually lose 30--50% of their earnings. Conservatively, they are losing around US$30 per ton of rice harvested.
Delayed, incomplete, or ineffective drying is the main reason for the deterioration of rice seed and grain. To maintain high grain quality, IRRI and its partners have developed mechanical flatbed dryers that are affordable for farmer groups;.